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Headley wants to get bigger for 2011

Headley wants to get bigger for 2011

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Unless he hits a home run Sunday, Padres third baseman Chase Headley will finish one home run shy of his career high of 12, a mark he set in 2009.

Headley would like to hit more home runs next season and has figured out a way to help him get there -- to add more weight. There's a caveat, though: He doesn't want to risk any of his mobility that has helped become one of the better defensive third basemen in the National League.

"It's a double-edged sword, though, because you don't want to sacrifice mobility," said Headley, who currently weighs 200 pounds.

Headley, when he was an outfielder in 2008 and 2009, played at 230 pounds. He would like to play between 215-220 pounds next season.

"You do feel different [when you're heavier] in the way the ball comes off your bat," he said, "and the way the ball carries. The next step for me is to gain as much muscle that I can, smartly."